IZOD IndyCar

New Teams Breeze Into Chicago

JOLIET, Ill. - As was the case last Sunday at Gateway International Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway will feature not only an inaugural Indy Racing Northern Light Series race, but also a couple of first-time driver team combinations.

Conquest Racing and Racing Professionals make their debuts as IRNLS teams in the Delphi Indy 300 this weekend, knocking the field up to 26 entrants.

Conquest Racing team has competed in the Dayton Indy Lights Championship Series but is moving up to the IRNLS for the final two races of the season. Former Indy driver Eric Bachelart is the team’s chief executive officer.

"After five seasons in the Dayton Indy Lights Championship we are ready to make the move to the Indy Racing Northern Light Series," said Bachelart, the 1991 Indy Lights and a former Indy car driver. "I have competed in the Indianapolis 500 as a driver in 1992 and 1995 and I would like to go back to the Speedway now as a team owner.

"That is our goal at Conquest Racing and we will begin with competing in the season-ending races in this year's Indy Racing Northern Light Series."

Racing Professionals makes its first IRNLS appearance this weekend with rookie Jon Herb as the driver and the owner. Herb, 27, has competed in four IRNLS races this season, with a best finish of 16th in April at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He will drive the No. 18 G Force-Aurora this weekend.

Rookie Rick Treadway will be making his second IRNLS start this weekend in Treadway-Hubbard Racing’s No. 5 G Force-Aurora.

The Delphi Indy 300 is sold out, and the fans on hand could see a new IRNLS champion crowned after the race begins at 4 p.m. (ET) Sunday. If Sam Hornish Jr. can add eight points to his lead in the standings, he will clinch the Northern Light Cup and the $1 million bonus that goes along with it.